Printing press



Feb. 7, 1939. c. A MEISEL PRINTING PRESS Filed June 4, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 7, 1939. Q A ME|SEL 2,146,586

PRINTING PRESS Filed June 4, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 li /71071702: Char'zes dilMc-zzlsez. I

Feb. 7, 1939.

C. A. MEISEL PRINTING PRESS Filed June 4, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 LIITII Imam/7702 Uharles dlMez'seZ.

Feb. 7, 1939.

Filed June 4, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 86 l l I/ J 80 2;" 80 7 $1.; 6 w x X 8a ea 92 I 90 m 86 C Y i D 88' sis Invenior: 02:42 2 efilMe is 01,

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Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PRINTING PRESS Charles A. Meisel, Milton, Mass, assignor to Mcisel Press Manufacturing Company, Boston, Maia, a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 4, 1937, Serial No. 146,423

14 Claims.

This invention relates to printing presses of the rotary web type, and the object is to provide an improved construction of such a press in which the various parts are particularly conveniently arranged to provide for access to the same in connection with the various operations and adjustments required in preparing for the printing operation or in carrying out the same.

My invention will be well understood by reference to the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a simplified side elevation of a portion of, a printing press embodying two printing units or couples and illustrative of the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view on an enlarged scale of a portion of Fig. 1 with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; a

Fig. 4 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of certain mechanism appearing at the lower central part of Fig- 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail on an enlarged scale of an elevation of the parts appearing adjacent the central portion of Fig. 1; and

Fig. '7 is a horizontal section through the same.

In Figs. 1 and 2, in which parts of the press are shown in side elevation, I have indicated by dot and dash lines the pitch lines of various driving gears, and the position of these gears will indicate generally the position of printing cylinders driven thereby. This will be well understood to those skilled in the art andrenders it unnecessary to show any cross sections or end elevations which on account of the multiplicity of the cylinders involved would not be particularly plain.

It will be understood that the press is embodied on side frames of substantially similar construction between which the various cylinders extend and only one of which is shown in the side elevation in the drawings. In Fig. 1 I have shown two printing units or mechanisms, constituting in themselves a multi-color press adapted to print two colors. The web 10 may be led in at the left of Fig. 1 from any suitable support and passes from the printing mechanisms at the right to delivery means of any desired form, not shown. The printing mechanisms shown in Fig. 1 may be serially duplicated as desired or necessary to provide a press printing any number of colors, but for the purpose of understanding the construction it is necessary to show and describe only as much as is illustrated in Fig. 1.

The double unit illustrated in Fig. 1 is organized on two main supporting frames 8, the nearer of which appears in the figure, which provide the horizontally extending supporting surfaces ill and i 2 between which rise the uprights l4. On the supporting surfaces i2 rest sub-frames l6 which carry certain cylinders of a printing mechanism including an ink-receiving cylinder, the position of which is indicated by its driving gear l8. This cylinder carries the plate, type engraving or other matter to give the printed impression and may cooperate with another cylinder carried by the sub-frame iii, the position of which is indicated by its driving gear 20. In the example of the invention shown the press is of the oflset type and in this case the cooperating cylinder at 20 is a blanket cylinder and cooperates with'a steel cylinder journalled between the two frames 8, and the position of which cylinder is indicated by the gear 22 between which and the blanket cylinder the web 10 passes. Alternatively, as shown by the dot and dash line w in Fig. 2, the cylinder at 20 could be an impression cylinder and the web led between the same and the ink-receiving cylinder for direct printing.

Inking mechanisms for the couple including inking rolls of any suitable form, diagrammatically indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 by the showing of the pitch lines of certain of the driving gears therefor, are mounted on other sub-frames 24 carried in overhanging position from the upright it, which upright has flanges 26 embraced by the frames and forming vertical tracks on which they move, the sub-frames being held thereto by the retainer plates 28. The sub-frames 24 may be adjusted vertically by means such as that which will hereafter be described more in detail and in their lowered position rest, as shown in Fig. 1, on the sub-frames IS with the inking rolls presented in cooperative relation to the ink-receiving cylinders at l8. In this position the inking rolls are driven from the gear l8. This is the operative position of the parts in printing.

Referring to Fig. 2, the sub-frame 24 carrying the inking mechanism may be raised as to the full line position of that figure out'of cooperation with the printing mechanism on sub-frame ii in its normal operative position, indicated by 5 dotted lines in the figure, and that frame may then be retracted to or beyond the full line position out from beneath the overhanging printing mechanism. On account of limitations in space the full line position in Fig. 2 is an intermediate 55 one and preferably the supporting surface III on which the sub-frame rests is of such extent as to permit removal of the sub-frame l6 completely from beneath the downwardly projected area of the frames 24 carrying the inking mechanism. As seen in Fig. 1, the horizontal supporting surfaces of the frames l and I2 extend unobstructed to either side of the inner or normal position of the sub-frame IE to permit such retraction. The sub-frame IS in this retracted position is thus accessible from all sides, free of any obstruction from the inking mechanism, and the inking mechanism on the sub-frame 24 is similarly exposed free of any obstruction from the printing cylinders.

It will be understood that the sub-frames l6 merely rest upon the horizontal supports I0 and I2 and-they may be provided (see Fig. 3) with pinions 32 running in racks 33 adjacent the supporting surfaces and adapted to be actuated by hand wheels 34 to move the sub-frames I6 back and forth. The sub-frames l6 may be easily removed bodily from the horizontal surfaces and replaced after suitable attention or suitable sub-frames having diiferent cylinders substituted therefor.

When the frames 24 carrying the inking mechanisms are raised somewhat beyond the full line position 24, a gear 30 carried thereby may move into. mesh with a gear M of a train at the top of the upright [4, taking motion from a motor 35 supported thereon. This permits the rolls of the inking mechanism to be rotated out of contact with the ink-receiving cylinder to work up the ink and to prepare for printing.

The printing couples may be driven from a main shaft 36 extending longitudinally adjacent one side of the machine which through gears 38, best seen in Fig. 2, drive a series of countershafts, each of which carries a worm 40 meshing with a worm wheel 42, from the shaft of which is driven gear 22 meshing with gear 20 and thus driving the rolls of the printing mechanism on the subframe l6. As will be apparent from Fig. 2, when the sub-frame is moved from the full line position to the operative dotted line position, the gear 20 will move into mesh with the gear 22 and that it unmeshes therefrom freely on retracting movement of the sub-frame toward the left in that figure.

To permit accurate registration of the printing mechanism on the web the bearings 44 for the shaft of worm 42 are slidably mounted in the casing 46 and the entire shaft may be longitudinally adjusted slightly by means of a hand wheel 48. This alters the point of engagement between the worm and the worm wheel and provides a slight adjustment of the timing suificient to make the smaller adjustments in register which may be required.

The sub-frames 24 which support the inking mechanism may be raised by power and I also provide a manual adjustment for lowering the same and to permit, when they have been raised by power nearly to their maximum elevated position, say to the full line position of Fig. 2, thereafter moving them by a slow manual adjustment to mesh gears 30 and 3|. Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 4, the frames 24 carry downwardly depending, threaded sleeves or nuts 48 in which work elevating screws 50 carrying worm wheels 52 adapted to be driven by worms 54 on transverse shafts 56 (see Fig. 5). Loose on these shafts are clutch elements 58 which carry the double sprockets 60, and the various sprockets longitudinally of the press are connected together by chains 62,

one of which, say at the left in Fig. 1, is driven from the main power source for operating the press, not shown. Clutch collar 84 keyed to the shaft may be moved into engagement with the cooperating element 58 by means of thelever 68 connected by a connecting rod 88 which extends through the frame 8 of the machine and is secured to the crank III on a vertical shaft 12 carrying (see Fig. 2) an operating handle "at a convenient elevation at its upper end.

The means for manually moving the frame is best illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The worm shaft 56, as seen in Fig. 5, carries sprockets 16 connected by. chains 18 (Fig. 6) to sprockets 80 on stud shafts journalled at a convenient elevation in the uprights I4. The ends of these shafts are provided with clutch teeth 82 adapted to cooperate with similarteeth on the studs 84 slidably mounted in the bracket 86 supported outwardly of the bearing. These studs are provided with feathered ends 88 adapted to receive an operating hand wheel 90 and are normally held out of engagement with the sprocket shafts by interposed springs 92. The hand wheel may be adjusted to either stud and pressed inwardly against the spring to provide for manual turning of the sprocket 80 and thereby an easy but slow adjustment of the frames carrying the inking mechanism.

In the case of multi-color or multi-couple: presses, such as that here shown, the two printing units, each embodying a sub-frame l6 and a subframe 24, may be arranged as shown in Fig. 1 so that each is a mirror picture of the other permitting the simplest and most compact construction of the press with one upright l4 providing for the support of both of the sub-frames 24 for the inking mechanisms. When several duplex units similar to Fig. 1 are arranged end to end, the unobstructed portion of the beds l0 and I2 may provide for alternative withdrawal under the same oi sub-frames on either side in case it is desired to economize on the over-all length of the press.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive; reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A rotary web press comprising a horizontal support and uprights, a sub-frame resting on the support carrying rotary printing cylinders including an ink-receiving cylinder, 8. frame mounted in overhung relation from said uprights carrying inking mechanism, the latter frame being vertically movable on the uprights and in its lowered position presenting the inking mechanism in cooperative relation to the ink-receiving cylinder, said horizontal support extending unobstructed from the uprights to provide for retraction of the sub-frame from beneath the frame which carries the inking mechanism.

2. A rotary web press comprising a horizontal support and uprights, a sub-frame resting on the port extending unobstructed from the uprights to provide for retraction of the sub-frame from beneath the frame which carries the inking mechanism.

3. A rotary web press comprisinga horizontal support and uprights, a sub-frame resting on the support carrying rotary printing cylinders including an ink-receiving. cylinder, a frame mounted in overhung relation from said uprights carrying inking mechanism, the latter frame being vertically movable on the uprights and in its lowered position presenting the inking mechanism in cooperative relation to the inkreceiving cylinder, and driving means on the uprights with which said inking mechanism may engage in an elevated position thereof, said horizontal support extending unobstructed from the uprights to providefor retraction of the subframe from beneath the frame which carries the inking mechanism.

4. A rotary web press adaptable for offset printing comprising horizontal ways and uprights rising therefrom, a sub-frame resting on the ways carrying a plate cylinder and a cooperating cylinder, a cylinder mounted between the ways, the sub-frame having an inner position adjacent the uprights wherein said cooperating cylinder is presented in operative relation to the cylinder between the ways for printing one web extending between them, a second subframe carrying inking mechanism for the plate cylinder movable up and down along said uprights and serving in lowered position to supply ink to the plate cylinder when the sub-frame carrying the same is in its inner position, the first subframe being retractible along the ways from beneath the second sub-frame when the latter is raised.

5. A rotary web press comprising horizontal and vetrical ways, sub-frames mounted to move therealong and carrying respectively elements of rotary printing mechanism including an ink-receiving cylinder and inking mechanism, the two having inner positions adjacent the angle of the ways wherein the inking mechanism cooperates with the cylinder and retracted positions wherein each is substantially free of obstruction by the other, one sub-frame resting under gravity on the horizontal way and the other overhung from the vertical way, and means for moving the sub-frames along the ways.

6. A rotary web press comprising horizontal and vertical ways, sub-frames mounted to move therealong and carrying respectively elements of rotary printing mechanism including an ink-receiving cylinder and inking mechanism, thev two having inner positions adjacent the angle of the ways wherein the inking mechanism cooperates with the cylinder and retracted positions wherein each us substantially free of obstruction by the other, one sub-frame resting under gravity on the horizontal way and the other overhung from the vertical way, and means for moving the sub-frames along the ways comprising for the vertically movable sub-frame a hoisting mechanism, power driven and hand driven shafts for actuating the same and clutch means for rendering the shafts effective.

7. A rotary web press comprising longitudinal ways, a sub-frame resting thereon under gravity to permit it to be freely lifted from the ways, cylinders of a printing mechanism including an inkreceiving cylinder carried by the sub-frame, uprights rising from the ways, a second sub-frame carried in overhung position by said uprights movable up and down therealong, inking mechanism carried by the second sub-frame. said second sub-frame adaptedto rest on the first, driving-gearing at the side of the ways, gears on the first sub-frame for the cylinders carried thereby adapted to mesh with said driving gearing, gears on the second sub-frame to drive the inking mechanism adaptedto mesh with the gears on the first sub-frame, the first sub-frame being retractible along the ways from beneath the second when the latter is raised.

.8. A multi-couple rotary web press embodying a plurality of un ts as defined in claim '7 wherein a pair of sub-frames carrying inking mechanism are supported by a substantially single set of uprights overhanging therefrom in opposite directions, and the corresponding sub-frames carrying printing cylinders move to and from operative position respectively in opposite directions.

9. A'multi-couple rotary web press comprising a horizontal bed, a driving shaft extending longitudinally of the same, gears driven thereby and turning about transverse axes, sub-frames each supporting cylinders of a printing couple including an ink-receiving cylinder removably imposed on said bed and shiftable longitudinally thereof,

each sub-frame carrying a 'gear from which the couple takes motion movable into and out of mesh 'with one of said first mentioned gears on such longitudinal movement, uprights rising at either side of said bed, inking mechanisms for the several couples suspended from the uprights, the said mechanisms being vertically movable on said uprights alternatively to dispose them in cooperatingrelation to said couples or in positions remote therefrom.

10. A multi-couple rotary web press comprising a horizontal bed, uprights rising therefrom, sub-frames each supporting cylinders of a printing couple including an ink-receiving cylinder removably imposed on said bed, frames carrying inking mechanisms overhung from said uprights and movable vertically therealong between a lowered position wherein they cooperate respectively with the couple on one of the sub-frames and elevated positions remote therefrom, said sub-frames being retractible along the bed from beneath the overhanging printing mechanisms.

11. A multi-couple rotary web press comprising a horizontal bed, uprights rising therefrom, sub-frames each supporting cylinders of a printing couple including an ink-receiving cylinder removably imposed on said bed, frames carrying inkng mechanisms overhung from said uprights and movable vertically therealong between a lowered position wherein they cooperate respectively with the couple on one'of the sub-frames and elevated positions remote therefrom, driving means on the uprights with which said inking mechanisms engage in an elevated position, said sub-frames being retractible along the bed from beneath the overhanging printing mechanisms.

12. A rotary web press comprising a horizontal bed, a sub-frame resting thereon for longitudinal adjustment therealong, a rack on the bed and a cooperating pinion on the frame, a longitudinal shaft beside the bed, a gear driven thereby rotating on a transverse axis, said sub-frame carrying cylinders of a printing couple including an inkreceiving cylinder and carrying a gear from which the couple takes motion disposed to move into and out of mesh with the first gear when the frame is racked to and fro, uprights arising from the bed, an inking mechanism suspended by the uprights and adapted to be lowered into cooperation with the couple in the driven position of the latter and to be raised therefrom to permit the retraction of the sub-frame along the bed, the bed extending to provide for retracting the sub- Irame therealong to a position unobstructed by said mechanism.

13. A multi-couple rotary web press comprising longitudinal ways having a substantially single set of uprights rising from an intermediate point therealong, sub-frames resting on the ways at either side of the uprights, each carrying printing cylinders including an ink-receiving cylinder, sub-frames carried by said uprights movable up and down th'erealong and projecting to either side thereof, said second mentioned sub-frames carrying inking mechanism for cooperating in the lowered position thereof with the ink-receiving cylinders at either side of the uprights respectively, the ways extending unobstructed at either side of the uprights to permit the retraction of the first sub-frames from beneath the second when the latter are raised.

14. A muiti-couple rotary web press comprising longitudinal ways having a substantially single set 01. uprights rising from an intermediate point therealong, sub-frames resting on theways at either side of the uprights, each carrying printing cylinders including an ink-receiving cylinder,

sub-frames carried by said uprights movable up and down therealong and projecting to either side thereof, said second mentioned sub-frames carrying inking mechanism for cooperating in the lowered position thereof with the ink-receiving cylinders at either side of the uprights respectively, the ways extending unobstructed at either side of the uprights to permit the retraction of the first sub-frames from beneath the second when the latter are raised, the sub-frames at either side of the uprights and the mechanisms carried thereby being of substantially like construction but arranged symmetrically about the uprights, one as a mirror picture of the other when viewed from the side.

CHARLES A. MEIBEL. 

